Automatic scroll sign

Abstract

A sign cabinet having a scroll movably mounted on rollers for movement past a display opening in the cabinet. A torsion spring acts on one of the rollers to compensate for differences in the rate of movement of the scroll at the two rollers. An electronic control circuit automatically senses the position of the scroll and is actuated by the position information for controlling the operation of the scroll. The modes of operation include: continuously moving back and forth between preselected end points within the scroll; moving back and forth within a predetermined section within the end points, stopping at preselected frames within the section; and, advancing from one frame or section to another.

Having described a preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments of the invention, and an example of the preferred embodiment, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a sign structure having a display area, a scroll adapted for moving past the display area to display information thereon at the display area, and a rotatable motor actuated by line and common conductors for moving said scroll, the improvement comprising: said scroll having at least one section containing information display regions in seriatim along the length of the scroll and being wound on and extending between two rolls;   said rotatable motor being reversible and having first and second input terminals, the direction of rotation thereof being controlled by applying a first conductor selected from the line conductor and the common conductor to one of the first or second input terminals, said motor being adapted for advancing the scroll past said display area in a first direction and in a second direction, opposite to said first direction;   a motor control circuit for applying the line conductor and the common conductor to said motor, comprising, (1) switching means connected to the first conductor and actuated upon application of a signal thereto for switching the first conductor between said first and second input terminals to change the direction of motor rotation,   (2) circuit means for selectively applying the second of the line conductor and the common conductor to the motor, comprising, (a) a normally-open first switch, adapted for closing upon a scroll display region being at the sign structure display area for connecting said circuit means to the second conductor,   (b) a first relay having a coil and first and second terminals, said first terminal connecting said second conductor to the motor for advancing the scroll when the coil is inactuated, said coil being actuable for disconnecting the first terminal from said second conductor and connecting the second terminal to the said second conductor,   (c) a second relay connecting the second conductor to said first relay coil upon closure of said normally open first switch for actuating said first relay to connect the second terminal thereof to said second conductor, and having a coil for actuating said second relay to disconnect said second relay from said second conductor, and   (d) time delay means actuated by the closing of the said normally-open first switch for applying a delayed signal to actuate the coil of said second relay to disconnect said second relay from said second conductor, thereby deactuating said first relay coil to connect said first terminal thereof to said second conductor,     (3) a normally-open second switch connected between said switching means and the second terminal of said first relay and closing concurrently with said first switch at the end of the scroll section for actuating said switching means,   (4) a normally-open third switch, said third switch closing concurrently with said normally-open second switch at the end of the image areas at either end of the scroll for bypassing the circuit means and connecting said normally-open second switch directly to said second conductor, thereby to actuate said switching means for reversing said motor and   (5) a manually operable, normally closed fourth switch connected to said second conductor between said first switch and said third switch for overriding said first switch and said circuit means.     
     
     
       2. The sign structure of claim 1 further comprising spring biasing means attached to one of said rollers to provide a torque of about 3.2 lbs. per inch upon said roller during its rotation to maintain the scroll taut between said rollers and to prevent binding of the scroll with said rolls. 
     
     
       3. In a sign structure having a display area, a scroll and a plurality of discrete sections disposed along the length of the scroll, each section having opposed section ends and within said ends a plurality of frames arranged in seriatim along said section, each frame containing an image area, the scroll further having a series of electrically conductive means positioned in registry with said frames and all or selected section ends, said scroll being rotatably supported by spaced apart drive and take-up rollers to position selected image areas in the display area, the improvement comprising: (a) a reversible rotatable motor adapted to be electrically energized for driving said drive roller and scroll in first and second directions;   (b) first circuit means for sequentially displaying said images in a first selected section by sensing the conducting means in registry with said frames in said selected section for actuating timing and first switching means to de-energize said motor and stopping movement of the scroll for predetermined intervals to display an image in said display area during the interval and subsequent to the interval energizing said motor for movement of the scroll to the conducting means in registry with an adjacent frame;   (c) second circuit means adapted to sense the connecting means of one of the opposed section ends of the first selected section for actuating second switching means to reverse the rotation of said motor from a first direction to said second and opposite direction and upon reversal thereof interconnecting with said first circuit means to energize said motor and moving said scroll for sequentially displaying said images at the display area at predetermined intervals in said second direction until the conducting means at the opposite end of said section is sensed by the second circuit means;   (d) third circuit means adapted to momentarily disconnect said first circuit and second circuit means to provide continuous energy to said motor and thereby continuously move said scroll in relation to the display area from said first selected section to a second selected section and reconnecting said first and second circuits when said second selected section is in registry with the display area to operate the motor and scroll to sequentially display the frames in said second selected section; and   (e) spring biasing means prewound about 20 to 30 turns about said take-up roller and providing a torque of about 3.2 lbs. per inch upon said roller during its rotation.